Article of manufacture having a removable solar rechargeable power supply

Abstract

The invention is an electronic device having a removable solar rechargeable power supply. A power supply module and battery pack are removable from the base unit as a sub-unit, or as a kit. The power supply contains batteries that are replaceable and rechargeable. Additionally, the power supply contains a solar cell secured to the power supply and integrated such that the solar cell, when receiving radiation, generates a voltage managed by the circuit to recharge the batteries until a completion level is reached, whereupon the recharging circuit reacts to prevent overcharging and damage to either the circuit or the batteries. An optional feature includes a circuit linking feature to electronically couple to the power supply circuit of the device such that the batteries supply power to the main unit during normal use until the batteries are drained and then the solar cell provides operative power to the main unit.

1 . A removable solar rechargeable power supply for an electronic device, said power supply supplying an operative power to said electronic device, and comprising:
 (a) a power supply container for containing said rechargeable power supply, said power supply container being removably engageable with said electronic device between uses; and   (b) an electronic power supply and recharging circuit in said power supply container, further comprising a solar panel member in series with a diode member; and, wherein said solar panel member and said diode member are in parallel with a rechargeable battery unit, whereby said solar panel member provides a charging energy to said rechargeable battery unit at least once during or between said uses.   
     
     
         2 . A removable solar rechargeable power supply for an electronic device, according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) a non-rechargeable battery unit in said electronic power supply and recharging circuit; and   (b) a switching component operatively switching between said rechargeable battery unit and said non-rechargeable battery unit; and, wherein said non-rechargeable battery unit in said circuit is in parallel with said rechargeable battery unit, whereby during said use said switching component operatively switches between each of said rechargeable and said non-rechargeable battery units to supply said operative power to said electronic device.   
     
     
         3 . A removable solar rechargeable power supply for an electronic device, according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 (a) said switching component includes electronic control means for determining when to switch between each respective said unit to supply said operative power to said electronic device according to electronic control parameters, and   (b) said electronic control parameters including at least one of the following parameters; a current supply parameter, a voltage supply parameter, power draw parameter from said electronic device, an estimated charge remaining in the rechargeable battery unit parameter, and an estimated charge remaining in the non-rechargeable battery unit parameter.   
     
     
         4 . An electronic device having a removable solar rechargeable power supply, comprising:
 (a) an operative circuit in said electronic device;   (b) a power supply container for containing said removable rechargeable power supply; and, wherein said power supply container is capable of being separable from said electronic device between uses and removably engageable with said operative circuit in said electronic device during a use thereof; and   (c) an electronic power supply and recharging circuit in said power supply container further comprising:
 (i) a solar panel member in series with a diode member; and, wherein said solar panel member and diode member are in parallel with a rechargeable battery unit, whereby said solar panel member provides a charging energy to said rechargeable battery unit; and 
 (ii) a non-rechargeable battery unit in said electronic power supply and recharging circuit. 
   
     
     
         5 . An electronic device having a removable solar rechargeable power supply, according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a switching component in said an electronic power supply and recharging circuit; and, wherein said switching component operatively switches between said rechargeable battery unit and said non-rechargeable battery unit to supply power to said operative circuit during said use.   
     
     
         6 . An electronic device having a removable solar rechargeable power supply, according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said non-rechargeable battery unit is in said circuit in parallel with said rechargeable battery unit, whereby during said use said switching component operatively switches between each of said rechargeable and said non-rechargeable battery units to supply said operative power to said electronic device.   
     
     
         7 . An electronic device comprising:
 (a) a main unit, adapted to be powered by a power pack; and   (b) a sub-unit, said sub-unit further comprising:
 (i) connecting means for interoperably connecting said sub-unit with said main unit, and wherein said connecting means are capable of allowing said sub-unit to be detached from said main unit under the control of a user of said electronic device; 
 (ii) solar radiation collecting means for collecting light from a light source; 
 (iii) radiation conversion means for converting said light to first electrical power, said first electrical power for powering said main unit; 
 (iv) a battery set for providing second electrical power to said main unit; and 
 (v) electrical power distribution means for distributing said first and said second electrical power. 
   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said electronic device further comprises a circuit for switching between said first electrical power and said second electrical power. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said sub-unit is adapted to be removable from said main unit. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said battery set comprises at least one battery that is rechargeable. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an electronic power supply and recharging circuit in said sub-unit, and further comprising a solar panel member in series with a diode member; and, wherein said solar panel member and said diode member are in parallel with a rechargeable battery unit, whereby said solar panel member provides a charging energy to said rechargeable battery at least once during or between a use of said electronic device.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein said sub-unit further comprises a circuit for directing said first electrical power to said at least one rechargeable battery for storage. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said battery set comprises a plurality of batteries and wherein said plurality of batteries further comprises at least one non-rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said radiation collecting means and said radiation conversion means are co-located to form a solar cell. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein said solar cell further comprises one or more organic light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein said battery set comprises at least one rechargeable battery and at least one non-rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein said battery set comprises at least one rechargeable battery and at least one non-rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein said sub-unit comprises a removable solar power supply, wherein said non-rechargeable battery is in a circuit in parallel with said rechargeable battery, whereby during an operational use of said electronic device, said switching circuit operatively switches between said non-rechargeable battery and said rechargeable battery to supply operative power to said electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein said switching circuit includes electronic control means for determining when to switch between said rechargeable battery and said non-rechargeable battery for providing operative power to said electronic device according to a set of electronic control parameters. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein said electronic control parameters include at least one of the following parameters:
 (a) a current supply parameter;   (b) a voltage supply parameter;   (c) a power draw parameter from said electronic device;   (d) an estimated charge remaining in said rechargeable battery parameter; and   (e) an estimated charge remaining in said non-rechargeable battery parameter.   
     
     
         21 . A power kit for use with a host electronic device, said power kit further comprising:
 (a) connecting means for interoperably connecting said power kit with said host electronic device, and wherein said connecting means are capable of allowing said power kit to be detached from said host electronic device by a user of said host electronic device;   (b) solar radiation collecting means for collecting light from a light source;   (c) radiation conversion means for converting said light to first electrical power, said first electrical power for powering said host electronic device;   (d) a battery set for providing second electrical power to said host electronic device; and   (e) electrical power distribution means for distributing said first and said second electrical power.   
     
     
         22 . The power kit of  claim 21 , wherein said power kit is adapted to be removable from said host electronic device. 
     
     
         23 . The power kit of  claim 21 , wherein said battery set comprises at least one battery that is rechargeable. 
     
     
         24 . The power kit of  claim 21 , further comprising an electronic power supply and recharging circuit in said sub-unit, and further comprising a solar panel member in series with a diode member; and, wherein said solar panel member and said diode member are in parallel with a rechargeable battery unit, whereby said solar panel member provides a charging energy to said rechargeable battery at least once during or between a use of said host electronic device. 
     
     
         25 . The power kit of  claim 21 , wherein said power kit further comprises a circuit for directing said first electrical power to said at least one rechargeable battery for storage. 
     
     
         26 . The power kit of  claim 21 , wherein said power unit comprises a plurality of batteries and wherein said plurality of batteries further comprises at least one non-rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         27 . The power kit of  claim 21 , wherein said radiation collecting means and said radiation conversion means are co-located to form a solar cell. 
     
     
         28 . The power kit of  claim 27 , wherein said solar cell further comprises one or more organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). 
     
     
         29 . The power kit of  claim 27 , wherein said solar cell further comprises one or more inorganic light emitting diodes (ILEDs). 
     
     
         30 . The power kit of  claim 21 , wherein said battery set comprises at least one rechargeable battery and at least one non-rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         31 . The power kit of  claim 27 , wherein said power kit comprises a removable solar cell, and wherein:
 (a) said non-rechargeable battery is in a circuit in parallel with said rechargeable battery; and   (b) whereby during an operational use of said host electronic device, a switching circuit operatively switches between said non-rechargeable battery and said rechargeable battery to supply operative power to said host electronic device.   
     
     
         32 . The power kit of  claim 31 , wherein said switching circuit includes electronic control means for determining when to switch between said rechargeable battery and said non-rechargeable battery for providing operative power to said host electronic device according to a set of electronic control parameters.